RevelationsAndUnmaskings{Continued from With Job Comes Free Lobster Roll) The remainder of the trip back to Boston is unremarkable for Fallon, save for a spot of a rain shower that makes the Interstate slick in spots. It's nothing that he can't handle, and soon enough Fallon, with his now quiet charge, are cruising the streets of Boston toward the building. Regan has already given Fallon instructions on how to get into the parking garage beneath the building, including the code, and so without further ado, Fallon soon finds himself a parking spot. We're here, aren't we? comes the mental voice of Jacobi, as Fallon stops the car. Fallon speaks quietly. "Yes, we are." Still speaking quietly, while masking it with a wiping motion of his hand from his nose to his chin, he goes on, "Once I get my payment, if you want an arrangement, I am not adverse to helping you renegotiate your terms with Regan. You have done me a good turn, by filling me in on the situation." Fallon then gets out of the car and walks over to the trunk, unlocks it and pulls Jacobi out, unwraps him from the blanket, stands him up and with his bag over his shoulder and his right hand resting next to his hip holstered Taser X-3, Fallon walks the still cable-tied Jacobi to Regan's office. Concealed in Fallon's left hand is a lock blade, so he can swiftly cut Jacobi's hands free, if need be. Jacobi does not contest or resist the treatment as Fallon leads him to the staircase out of the parking garage, and from there, makes their way up to her office. He doesn’t say anything, not even in response to Fallon’s offer. He does give Fallon one last look at the door to Regan’s office, but in short order even that small barrier is gone. “Come in, Mr. Fallon. I’m pleased your commission was a success,” comes her voice,even before Fallon reaches for the door. The office is unchanged from his last visit, as if, somehow, perversely, she has been sitting behind the desk the entire time. It’s even the same outfit she wore at their last meeting. “And you brought me such a lovely present.” Judging from the way she is holding her hand and positioned her arm beneath her desk, Fallon is pretty sure she has a gun in that hand. Fallon shifts slightly, the lock blade opening quietly, as he watches Regan. The corner of his eye never leaves the area of the desk which conceals the gun he believes is there. "If you don't mind, I've delivered. So, it's time for you to deliver on your part of the bargain." As he speaks, the movement concealed by his other hand coming up as if to punctuate what he's saying, he quickly cuts through the bonds tying Jacobi's hands, nicking him slightly on the wrist, accidentally. "Ouch," Jacobi says, starting and driving a couple of steps forward. He stops and regards Regan. It's clear to Fallon that Jacobi has noticed the same thing as he has. For her part, her free hand opens a drawer, and pulls out a fat envelope, which she places on the desk. "Forty five thousand euros, as promised," Regan says brightly. "I keep my end of the bargain, as I am pleased that you have done so." "I told him the truth, Regan. As much as he would listen to anyway," Jacobi says. "Are you going to tell him what this is really about?" he challenges her. "I think he just wants to take his money and forget the strange things he's heard and has been told. Don't you, Mr. Joyce?" Regan says. Fallon puts away the lock-blade, scoops up the envelope and pockets it, all with his left hand. His right hand rests loosely next to the holstered Taser. "Since our business is now concluded, and I am a free agent again, I believe I would like to hear what this is about; Mr. Jacobi informed of some of the background on the way in. I might have been inclined to disregard it, if he hadn't been tied up and wrapped in a moving blanket in the trunk at the time. "Do wish my services, Mr. Jacobi? Payment to be decided later. I'll accept the information you gave me on the way in as a down payment, if that makes the choosing easier." "Offer accepted," Jacobi says instantly. He gives a look of triumph to Regan. "I win the bet." With a frown, Regan opens an unseen desk drawer and, judging from the body language, puts the gun she was holding into it. "Sit down, Fallon," she says. Regan waits for Fallon to do so. She looks at Jacobi. "You or I?" she says to Jacobi. "You. I've started to fill him in, but as he said, I was not convincing." "Fine," Regan says. She looks at Fallon. "Part of this was to find out how much you knew about yourself, and if you were working for your mother, overtly or not. Don't get us wrong, Jacobi and I here have our entanglements going back quite a ways. But when we learned about you, we hatched this plan to find out more about you. To discover what you knew about yourself, or didn't. "You really didn't know you're the son of the Morrigan, did you?" Regan says. Fallon unconsciously makes the sign of the cross when Morrigan's name is spoken. "I'm still not convinced of this demi-godhood you bestow upon yourselves and I. All this talk of Gods sounds uncomfortably close to heresy, which makes me concerned for my lapsed Catholic soul." "I told you, Regan, this was not the way to go about this," Jacobi tells Regan. "We've not given him enough time to accept the truth of the matter." "Then what would you have done. I seem to recall some failures on your part," Regan replies sharply. "Maybe brought him across one of the Veils. Let him see a world behind this one," Jacobi replies. "You wouldn't suggest bringing him to her*?" Regan says, alarm raising her voice. "Why not? She'll acknowledge him, and maybe knock some sense into him, and some of the superstition loose," Jacobi says. "Look, Fallon," Regan turns from Jacobi and looks at Fallon. "There is a war, a war that is going to shape the world not only for Scions and the Gods, but everyone else as well. And your help is needed. Your mother needs your skills. We all do." Fallon shifts, his hands still resting by his sides, relaxed but ready. His eyes narrow slightly at Regan's mention of war. "I know war, it's unpleasant. It leads to death, destruction, betrayal and distrust." He pauses. "War never changes, it changes you." He closes his eyes wearily. He opens them, glances at Jacobi, and then looks at Regan again. "I fought for many years for the liberation of my country. That was real war. I lost too much fighting that war, I lost too much." He bows his head and closes his eyes again. He whispers a prayer under his breath. He continues to speak softly, head still bowed. "I've seen and done terrible, terrible things, all for the cause, all for my country, all to make it whole again. I had put that away, you would have me unleash that again. Blood will reign, blood will rule." Fallon then looks up, clear-eyed. His piercing gaze moves from Regan to Jacobi. "Convince me, bring me to this woman, this "Goddess," you claim is my mother. Bring me to Morrigan." His eyes narrow as he says her name. "I'm certain I've made her proud, if she is my mother. I've left enough carrion for the crows to feast on in my time." He says this last bitterly, harshly. Regan shoots Jacobi an angry look. He gives one in return. Something passes unspoken between the pair. Finally, Jacobi turns to Fallon. "I know the way to the Morrigan. If you wish, I can lead you there, though the anger of the Morrigan is something I am loath to face. The need is greater. And Regan has the advantage of me, and her power is tied too closely to Boston. Mine is more mobile. I fear her, no man or God does not, but I do not think she will destroy me. Come, let us go, now, while you are resolved." "Will that satisfy you?" Regan says to Fallon. "I release you into Jacobi's care, and he takes you to face your destiny?" Fallon nods to Regan. "Destinies are made, not set." He tells Jacobi, "Should I turn out to be who you claim me to be, I will treat with for her for your continued well-being." He starts to follow Jacobi - but then turns back to Regan. "Should I return, we will carry on our dialogue." He then turns back, and Jacobi and Fallon step out the door and into the night. (Continued in Meeting the Mother) |
